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Owner D'Lited With Ice Cream Emporium

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By MICHAEL H. SAMUELS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 12, 2007

Updated: 09/10/2007 07:55 pm

TAMPA - While a student at the University of Florida, Beth Chatman loved buying frozen yogurt.

So much so that she joked she should own an ice cream shop.

Of course, that didn't happen right away. First, Chatman worked for a home builder, then in business sales for Alltel.

Finally, with the prodding of her fiance, Chatman decided to go after her dream.

She looked into buying a TCBY franchise. When that didn't work out, she learned about D'Lites Emporium, which sells low-carb, low-fat, low-sugar and cholesterol-free ice cream.

She visited a shop in Gainesville while there for a football game and was hooked.

'It tastes great,' Chatman said.

She said she works more than 100 hours a week in the shop, 1906 S. Dale Mabry Highway, which serves 100 soft-serve ice cream flavors and other health foods.

The store is open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

For information, call (813) 251-5222.

Davis Optical Gets Makeover

For close to 60 years, Davis Optical has been fitting south Tampa residents with glasses and eyewear accessories.

Since 2001, Frances Perez Baker has owned the business. This summer, she decided it was time for a change.

She renamed Davis Optical to Eyewear Designs By Frances and updated the look, design and inventory of the shop, 602 S. Dale Mabry Highway.

'We are looking to bring in the younger generation,' Perez Baker said. 'We have mainly catered to the older, more mature south Tampa generation. We are looking to bring in newer people.'

The shop sells designer glasses as well as prescription goggles. Prices start at $250.

Perez Baker said she decided to change in an effort to get her clients to change as well.

'We're very behind on things in Tampa,' she said. 'I've been here since 1972, and I've done what I've been doing since the late 1970s. I've seen trends change. This group in Tampa is a little more reserved.'

The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

For information, call (813) 877-1339.

Four Elements Equals Ceramics

Two south Tampa women - one an engineer, the other a wife and mother of four - came up with the idea over coffee after Christmas.

Both of them like colorful, European-style ceramics; both had a hard time finding them in Tampa.

So they joined forces to open Four Elements, 2406 S. MacDill Ave., named for the air, water, earth and fire needed to make ceramics.

The shop features plates, pitchers, handmade cutlery and linens from Spain, India, Italy, France and Turkey. Products are microwave and dishwasher safe, with prices ranging from $5 to $900.

'Anybody that walks into the store can find something they want to take home,' co-owner Cristina Farah said.

Farah has known her business partner, Sheila Awad, for about eight years. They discovered their mutual interest in ceramics and opened the store as a way to be more flexible in spending time with their families.

'This has been a perfect combination for both of us,' Farah said.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

For information, call (813) 835-4444.

Opening a new business? Expanding or relocating? Contact reporter Michael H. Samuels at msamuels@tampatrib.com or (813) 835-2109.

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